Jinggoy wants inquiry on Mamasapano encounter

MANILA, Philippines - From his detention cell, Sen. Jinggoy Ejercito Estrada filed on Tuesday a resolution calling for an inquiry on the deadly encounter between the Philippine National Police (PNP) and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) and other elements in Mamasapano, Maguindanao.

Estrada filed Senate Resolution 1134, urging the committee on public order and dangerous drugs; on peace, unification and reconciliation and on local government, to look into the matter in aid of legislation.

“There is a need to review the conduct of this particular police operation and to revisit protocols that have to be followed to prevent failure and misfortune in the future,” Estrada said in the proposed resolution.

Estrada wanted to know if there is a need to reassess the capability and strength of the PNP Special Action Force following reports that there were 392 members involved in the operation yet a significant number of their colleagues were killed.

The senator noted the discrepancy given by the PNP in Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) and the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG).

Estrada also wants to find out whether the function of serving warrants of arrest should solely be handled by the PNP, in cases when the person being served with the warrant is an international terrorist.

Lastly, Estrada stated that the unfortunate incident should lead to “intensive assessment and effective reforms in law enforcement so that the death of these policemen will not be in vain.”

During plenary session, Estrada’s resolution was referred to the Senate committee on public order and dangerous drugs as primary committee, and then the Senate committee on peace, unification and reconciliation.